WB to tell story of eccentric software pioneer John McAfee

Warner Bros. is in final negotiations to acquire feature film rights to Joshua Davis’ recent Wired magazine article “John McAfee’s Last Stand,” which the “Crazy Stupid Love” team of John Requa and Glenn Ficarra will write, direct and produce through their Zaftig Films banner.

Wired publisher Conde Nast Entertainment will also produce, while Davis is expected to be involved in a producer capacity.

A former NASA programmer, McAfee is the 66-year-old software guru who developed the first commercial anti-virus program. According to news reports, he had recently evaded authorities in Belize who sought to question him about the murder of American expatriate and neighbor Gregory Viant Faull in Orange Walk Town, Belize. McAfee had previously been arrested on suspicion of unlicensed drug manufacturing (methamphetamine) and possession of an unlicensed weapon. McAfee sought political asylum in Guatemala, but his plea was denied and he was designated for deportation after allegedly entering the country illegally. While at a detention center, McAfee allegedly faked a heart attack in order to give his attorney time to file a series of appeals that prevented his deportation to Belize, and on Dec. 12, he was deported to the U.S.

While McAfee founded McAfee Associates, which was acquired by Intel in 2010 for $7.68 billion, he sold his stock in 1994 and has not been involved with the company since that time. At the peak of his success, McAfee was said to be worth $100 million, though his personal fortune has taken a significant hit in the wake of the financial crisis, forcing him to sell almost everything he owned.

Requa and Ficarra have become favorites on the Warners lot since directing its 2011’s “Crazy Stupid Love,” which grossed nearly $143 million worldwide. Duo are prepping WB’s grifter pic “Focus” with “Love” producer Denise Di Novi.